The Flickr P2V Image Generatr

Lockheed P2V-7S Neptune (c/n 726-7190)
Aero Union
Porterville-Municipal, CA (PTV/KPTV)
03 October 1997

During the summer wildfire season, fire bombers are based at airfields all over California, on stand-by for any situation that may arise. At the Porterville Air Attack base, it was Tanker 01's duty to be on alert during the 1997 season.

Registered as N701AU to Aero Union Corporation, it was seen basking in the sun, sporting Aero Union's attractive bright red, white and black colours.

N701AU was built as BuAer 145920 as a P2V-7 for the US Navy in 1959, and served until 1974, when it was struck off charge and stored at Davis-Monthan. In 1986, Aero Union acquired the Neptune as N920AU and converted it to Firestar tanker configuration, now registered as N701AU/Tanker 01.

Tanker 01 was in fact the prototype of the Firestar conversion, which involved removal of the auxiliary turbojet engines and other military equipment, and the installation of a fire retardant delivery system and two computer controlled, electro-hydraulically actuated dispersal doors.

In 2007 the aircraft was sold to Bravo Airlines, still as N701AU, and by 2013 the US markings were cancelled by the FAA. The Neptune's further fate is unknown.

144685 cn 726-7136 -
Lockheed P2V-7S Neptune -
Privately Owned -
'FreNa' c/s wfu (stored) -
Seifertshofen (Eschach),
04-Jun-1982 Baden-Württemberg, Germany, DEU.

44562 cn 8064 -
Beechcraft JRB-4 Expeditor -
Privately Owned -
'FreNa' c/s wfu (stored) -
144685 cn 726-7136 -
Lockheed P2V-7S Neptune -
Privately Owned -
'FreNa' c/s wfu (stored) -
Seifertshofen (Eschach),
04-Jun-1982 Baden-Württemberg, Germany, DEU.

87326687 :Piction ID--Model, Lockheed P-2V Neptune (P-2H/P2V-7); Gray and white with gray plastic stand, gold plaque on base Lockheed P-2 Neptune (designated P2V by the United States Navy prior to September 1962);----Image from the SDASM Curatorial Collection--Please tag these photos so information can be recorded.---Note: This material may be protected by Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.)--Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum

Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune

Lockheed SP-2H Neptune

An ex-US Navy P2V Neptune (N410NA) operated by Neptune Air Tankers as an aerial firefighter, landing at Mesa Gateway in May 2017.

Note the MD-80s in the background.

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, McMinnville, OR - 26/01/2015. Located at the rear of the museum is this Evergreen International Airlines, Lockheed P2V-5 (P-2E) Neptune, N202EV, c/n 426-5383. She originally served the US Navy and was registered 131502.

A P2 Neptune fire-fighting airplane taxies to a stand at the Moses Lake, WA USFS Air Tanker Base on August 23, 2015.

Captain-in-training Jeremy Foss pauses during a chat inside his World War Two-era P2 Neptune fire bomber at the Moses Lake, WA USFS Air Tanker Base on August 23, 2015.

C/n 726-7204 built in 1960 to US Navy as P2V-7S marked 147954, in 1962 redesignated P-2H. Falsely marked USAF 54-4037 in Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins, GA, USA 18. January 2023.

C/n 726-7204 built in 1960 to US Navy as P2V-7S marked 147954, in 1962 redesignated P-2H. Falsely marked USAF 54-4037 in Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins, GA, USA 18. January 2023.

C/n 726-7204 built in 1960 to US Navy as P2V-7S marked 147954, in 1962 redesignated P-2H. Falsely marked USAF 54-4037 in Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins, GA, USA 18. January 2023.

C/n 726-7204 built in 1960 to US Navy as P2V-7S marked 147954, in 1962 redesignated P-2H. Falsely marked USAF 54-4037 in Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins, GA, USA 18. January 2023.